Living with PTSDYou can live a healthy life with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, a mental health condition that’striggered by a traumatic event. Symptoms, including anxiety, nightmares and depression, can bemanaged with treatment and healthy lifestyle changes. This starts by keeping your healthcareappointments.“It’s very important to stay in touch with your provider so that you can have that support that youneed and stay on track with your recovery.”-Dr. Martha Carlson, Clinical PsychologistLearning how to cope with your PTSD symptoms, will help you live a healthier life.“They can’t reduce all anxiety, but they can alter it in some way. So, to get them to practice a copingskill and that could be anything from engaging in fun activities where there’s no danger, it could bedoing some sort of breathing or meditation, as long as it doesn’t remind them of the trauma itself.”-Dr.Chad Wetterneck, Clinical PsychologistDana was sexually assaulted in high school and struggled with anxiety. She started going to therapy just afew years ago. It helped her realize what causes her PTSD symptoms to flare up.“When I feel threatened. When I fight with someone I love.”-Dana, PatientThrough therapy, Dana learned how to cope with those situations.“I generally will stop whatever that interaction is and say you know what, I’m going to need a minuteand we can come back to this. I need to just walk away and take care of myself a little bit.”-Dana,PatientMarine veteran, Dan Van Buskirk also suffers from PTSD. He served in Vietnam, where he experienced andwitnessed a lot of painful things. Dan’s symptoms are triggered by things most people don’t even notice.“Loud noises, people that are not in control of their mental faculties, drunk,or I can’t go into bars oranything like that. Airplanes. The scream of jets overhead.”-Dan, PatientTo ease that anxiety.“What I do is work on my breathing and I focus on my breath.”-Dan, PatientDan also joined a music program with other vets.Page 1 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG5317598 EN LivingWithPTSD.pdf© The Wellness NetworkLiving with PTSD“It’s not about becoming a great guitar player. It’s about just picking up the instrument, practicingeach day. It’s a form of meditation.”-Dan, Patient“It offers this wonderful opportunity for veterans to learn a skill with something that has anemotional connection, the personal connection because of the music they end up playing. It givesthem something to focus on versus the thoughts that race around.”-Sheppard Crumine, MusicTherapistDana’s focus for relaxation is sailing.“When I can feel the stress, when I can feel the tension, when I can feel the emotions, that sailing iswhere I go. It’s where I escape to.”-Dana, PatientHaving support is also key to managing your PTSD. You don’t necessarily have to talk about the actualtrauma that changed your life – just spending time with loved ones can comfort and heal.“I can’t imagine really feeling like I’m better if I didn’t have a group of support. If I didn’t havepeople I could call on.”-Dana, PatientIf you suffer from PTSD, it’s also important to eat healthy, stay active, and get enough sleep.“When you don’t sleep well, there’s an area of the brain that becomes more activated the next day.And that area of the brain makes you hyper sensitive to triggers and makes you irritable. Makesyou unable to think clearly.”- Dr. Martha Carlson, Clinical PsychologistPTSD can put you at greater risk for alcohol and drug abuse to try to numb the pain.“When someone with PTSD uses substances, it often serves as avoidance. So, it helps you tomanage the immediate trigger. But in the long run avoiding that trigger leads to worsening PTSDsymptoms.”- Dr. Martha Carlson, Clinical PsychologistWith your healthcare team, a treatment plan and support, you can take back control of your life fromPTSD.“I want to embrace the possibilities. I want to know what the next challenge is instead of beingafraid of what might happen, and I love that.”-Dana, PatientPage 2 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG5317598 EN LivingWithPTSD.pdf© The Wellness Network
